tion to a German ally, and to arm elements of the Mexican army in
the Sonora province to invade the United States. Despite a personal
meeting with President Venustiano Carranza of Mexico shortly after
his arrival in mid-August 1917, the plan came to naught, as Dilger’s
promises of immediate military aid were inordinately delayed by the
German Foreign Office. Dilger had further instructions to settle the
disputes that had developed in Mexico among various German opera-
tives, yet not only were there tensions among his own staff, which in-
cluded Frederick Hinsch and Frederick Herrmann, but a bitter rivalry
soon ensued with Kurt Jahnke, the German Admiralty’s confiden-
tial agent. Moreover, all of the General Staff’s agents in Mexico with
the exception of Dilger were being monitored by the Americans.
In mid-December 1917, frustrated by his failed attempts to pro-
cure funds for his Mexican project, Dilger journeyed to Spain to
take advantage of better communication ties to Berlin. Although
“Delmar” received the Iron Cross Second Class in recognition of
his sabotage and espionage work in a “most secret” cable sent the
following month, he felt little solace. His entreaties to his superiors
regarding the viability of his Mexican strategy continued to go un-
heeded. In late August, Dilger was advised by the Political Section
to drop the invasion plan altogether but still create the illusion of a
continuing Mexican threat. But Allied agents were closely tracking
Delmar’s activities, even though the connection to Dilger had not
been established. The ironic final blow occurred when he fell victim
to the influenza pandemic that struck Europe in 1918. According to
hospital records, Dilger, having registered under the name Donde,
died on 17 October at the German sanatorium in Madrid. Numerous
discrepancies, however, fueled speculation that his death may have
been staged or had another cause.DINCKLAGE, HANS GÜNTHER VON (1896–?). A Sicherheits-
dienst (SD; Security Service) officer who maintained a wartime liai-
son with Coco Chanel in Paris, Hans Günther von Dincklage joined
the Abwehr in 1928 but later became associated with the SD. As-
signed to the Paris consulate as a press attaché following the conquest
of France in 1940, he soon met the famous fashion designer at the
Hôtel Ritz, where she resided, and a public affair ensued. With the
approval of SD head Walter Schellenberg, Operation modellhut
DINCKLAGE, HANS GÜNTHER VON • 85